COMPARATIVE MENDACITY 101
THE ENGLISH language is so amply endowed that there’s comparative mendacity. I never thought of this scale of dishonesty until I looked up “to equivocate,” the next in my ever-expanding … Continue reading
DECEPTION, TO DECEIVE, TO BE DECEPTIVE
TODAY I add the word “deceptive” to my etymological thoughts on useful political descriptors. Recent pronouncements concerning Charlottesville, tax reform, dreamers, not to forget continuing компромат, bring the word “deceptive”and … Continue reading
A FAVORITE CUISINE, BACK IN 1919
MAYBE IT was yesterday’s intelligent octopus talk here that got me thinking about a favorite cuisine. On the other hand, learning more about this octopod also got me thinking about … Continue reading
SEA ALIENS
THE OCTOPUS is as near to intelligent alien life as anything found on this planet. I’ve learned about two books that explain this outlandish statement. The London Review of Books, … Continue reading
FROM GYPSYING TO GLITTERY CEILINGS
BACK BEFORE driving was considered an undesirable activity, people used to “take drives” as entertainment. Imagine that! And, indeed, there’s a most informative account of this: Americans on the Road, … Continue reading
CLIMATE CHANGE, LANGUAGEWISE
THE TERM climate change has been all but eliminated from the Trump administration’s nomenclature. Thus, I guess, to some this means it doesn’t exist. As an example of this thinking, … Continue reading
RALLY HEROICS
ON-BOARD TRIP computers have taken the fun out of cars. And maybe saved a few relationships. I’m thinking of the competitive motorsport activity of time-speed-distance rallying, still practiced here and … Continue reading
B.R.1 ROTARY AERO ENGINE
QUICK: NAME a famous automaker who first manufactured aero engines. Oh, the one with the spinning prop logo? Actually, I was thinking of an even earlier one: W.O. Bentley and … Continue reading
IS THAT WALTER P. SPINNING TO REDLINE?
NO, ACTUALLY the metaphor for Chrysler’s founder spinning in his grave is long out of date. True, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is being courted today by possibly four—count them, four—Chinese automakers. … Continue reading
Simanaitis Says 
BEL CANTO POP!
PACIFIC OPERA Project’s production of Gaetano Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor was great! This Los Angeles-based opera company, known affectionately as POP, has even made a Bel Canto lover of me. … Continue reading →